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I found out yesterday from askamanager.org and a costume as racism thread.
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I found out it could be offensive a few years ago, I think. I thought it was spelled "jipped" and never made the connection. Since I learned about it I stopped using it (but I don't think I used it very much in the first place).
@scg00387: I like words a lot too. If I learn a word could be offensive, I stop using it. It broadens my vocabulary! -
@looch: I also do not like when people use retard or retarded or any other knowingly offensive terms and say they dont mean it in an offensive way. If you know it offends people then dont use it because you never know when you might say it someone who is related to or connected to the offended group
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I'm actually surprised so many people didn't know!
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I knew. But I have worked in organizations that are very dedicated to diversity and using appropriate language. But before my work I had used that term a lot because I didn't know it came from Gypsies.
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This never occurred to me!
Stupidity alert: In my defense, I never knew the spelling, so I never linked it to "gypsy". Teaches me to learn the words I use from now on!
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When I see the word and the explanation, it makes sense...but it never occurred to me to find the origin of the term...much like most of the words that come out of my mouth. Now that I know, I'll definitely curb it.
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@sorrycharlie: You're okay with heeby-jeebies. There is a similarity to a Jewish slur (hebe as a shortening of Hebrew) but Heeby-Jeebies was actually coined by an American cartoonist.
http://www.word-detective.com/back-k2.html#heebee -
I didn't know! I'm definitely not going to use it ever. I don't use very often now but I used to use it in high school all the time!
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Like @TemperanceBrennan: , I always thought it was spelled "jipped" (which I never write out) so I never made that connection, but as soon as I read the title of the thread I got it.
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i never even knew this...learn something new everyday.
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Wow. I never knew this! I really thought a gypsy was just a person who's a nomad and didn't really consider it a racist term until I did some research on it recently.
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I knew. I'm kind of surprised so many don't but I guess I grew up in a pretty 'pc' area.
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I learned about this in a college.. We read an ethnography of the Roma in an anthro class. I didn't have a hard time striking it from my vocabulary. You don't know who you're talking to by looking at someone so saying there aren't a lot of Roma people in your area/country is not a good excuse to use deliberately offensive language if you know better. I understand this isn't one that people are often aware of but I will let you know and I will judge you if you do it again.
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I never knew!
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@LazyLightning: No, I think it 'is'. As in, better to offend those people than the Jews, in some people's logic. Still super offensive.
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I never knew--I thought it was jipped! I don't really use it, though, and I won't use it again.
Just a sidebar...it can't be racist if it's not a particular race. It's an ethnic slur.
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@sarac: Ah, so since it's not ok to offend one group of people, let's try to offend a different one, possibly one with a lower 'social' standing.
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I knew, luckily I don't used that word anyway so there is nothing to avoid.
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I used it a lot growing up, but didn't know it was offensive until a few years ago when someone pointed it out. I definitely do not use it now thatI know it is offensive. As a teacher and mother, I feel it is important to model being respectful of all different races, religions and cultures.
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@Mrs. J: good point about it referring to an ethnic group and not a race. thanks.
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wow I never knew.
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@LazyLightning: Exactly! You've totally mastered bad logic.
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I might have known that but I don't think I remember it. Ha!
Yeah, I use it sometimes. Need to remember that.
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I never knew! I told DH tonight, too and he didn't realize, either, but we both agree it seems so obvious now.
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I never knew. Too be honest, I dont think theres getting around all of these potential incorrect terms. I still try be careful with the real obvious ones.
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I knew too. I cringe when I hear people use it.
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Meh. I'm part Gypsy (my mom's side) and I don't find it offensive. I'm not particularly sensitive though.
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Never knew that, but it makes sense. I feel like it's just part of slang though. I would hope no one would take offense, especially since most "offenders" would have no idea why it's offensive. Ignorance, sure. But intentional, no. It's like when people say "going Dutch" or i.e. my Dutch doors. No one would change how they call the door, but will someone be offended? I hope not.
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I never knew that, I haven't used or heard it in years!
I did however use the phrase Indian Giver infront of my husbands friends wife, I think she may have some Native American in her family. I was mortified, I hardly ever say that and it just slipped out. She didn't say anything though.
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@shopaholic: it's actually really easy to remove something potentially offensive from your language...so yeah let's not use going Dutch. It's not that much effort to say "let's split the check" instead. I think people do have a responsibility to understand the language they use. Phrases and terms that have dubious origins aren't hard to identify when you speak with a critical eye. I do understand that you can't know everything all the time but when you learn that jipped is an ethnic slur and continue to use it because adapting is too hard and who knows what else could be offensive so it's not worth trying...that's not ignorance anymore. (not saying you personally do this!)
Dutch door on the other hand is not considered an offensive term, it's an object named for its usage in the Netherlands.
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Yep, I knew this and don't use the term. I haven't really heard anyone around me use it either, since I was a little kid.
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@Fronkinzankinsbride: @shopaholic: I didn't know "going Dutch" is offensive. I looked up on wikipedia and didn't find the origin all that offensive, but I am not Dutch. I also found this article nout other common phrases that are offensive.
Rule of Thumb
Hold Down the Fort -
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I had heard the "rule of thumb" one before, but it's actually not true: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/rule-of-thumb.html
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@shopaholic: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I don't really think 'going dutch' would offend the dutch - it isn't a word with a negative connotation. Getting 'gypped' is a bad thing -- going dutch or a dutch door... isn't. So I don't think that comparison makes any sense.
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@Fronkinzankinsbride: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @scg00387: True, people should learn origins and eliminate offensive jargon from vocabulary. My point was just that a lot of people will use a common slang word without knowing it was offensive and not intending to offend. Sorry if my point came off as offensive too.
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@shopaholic: You did not offend me. In fact I was curious to find out more about "going Dutch". Even still I don't see how any of the the alleged origins of the phrase is offensive. And wouldn't you know one of the "origins" of another phrase I happened across was not even true as @erinpye: point out.
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@shopaholic: oh I don't think it was offensive I just don't think the comparison makes sense! To me there's a difference in not knowing an knowing and using it anyways.
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It's definately an offenseive term people don't realize...and the only reason I know is because my senior thesis in College was about gypsy's!
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A lot of people I know say "we should pow-wow about that"... I just want to say "you know a pow-wow is a sacred ritual, right?!"
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